Molding machine



Oc t. 4, 1938 I b. J. CAMPBELL 2,131,935.

MOLDING MAQHINE OriginalTiIed Dec. 3, .1954 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORDo/wuo JLAMPBELL y U I I g M W ATTORNEKS Oct. 4, 1938. D. J. CAMPBELL2,131,935

MOLDING MACHINE Original; Filed Dec. 3, 1934 8 Sheets-Sheet 2- 11vVENTOR f Do/vnzo ,Jfwwaaz.

Bxwgyu m A TTORNEKS Oct. 4, 1938. D, CAM ELL 2,131,935

MOLDING MACHINE Offginal Filed Dec. 3, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 5 4 INVENTORDa/w uo dflwparu ATTOR IYEYS 0d". 4, 1938. 5.1 CAMPBELL 2,131,935

MOLDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Shet 4 1 INVENTOR- fia/vao J'aunsnz YBY it ||l'1938. D. J. CAMPBELL 2,131,935

IOLDING' MACHINE ITQ-8 wwr/vroe DONALD Q1 CAMPBELL A TTOIPNEKS Oqt.4,;1938. v D.IJ. CAMPBELL 2,131,935

MOLDING MQCHINE Original Filed Dec: 3, 19:54 a Sheets-Sheet 8 lNl/E/VTOR Dom/.0 d CAMPBELL BY fa g MATTOP/VEY:

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 2.131.935 I MOLDING MACHINE Donald J, Campbell,Muskegon Heights, Mich.

Application December 3, 1934, Serial No. 755,688,, Renewed October 7,1936 17 Claims.

This invention relates to molding machines. It is a primary object andpurpose of the present invention to provide a novel construction ofmolding machine wherein molds for the casting of for attaining the abovestated'ends as well as it many others not at this time particularlyenumerated, and may be understood from thefollowing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

' Fig. 1 is'a side elevation 'of the molding machine of my inventionwith parts thereof shown in vertical section. v

Fig. 2-is a front elevation and vertical section, one-half substantiallyof the figureshowing an" elevation and the. remaining half a verticalsection in a plane back of the front of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section showing the matchplate and patterns thereon in the position which they occupy when sandis forced into the flask over said patterns, the match plate beingperforated to exhaust the air after the impact blow, and alsoillustrating the mechanism used to raise the match plate to suchposition, which mechanism .is also used for drawing the patterns fromthe mold.

Fig. i is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the match platemoved upwardly a short distance beyond the position shown in Fig. 3 forthe purpose of squeezing the sand after it has been deposited by impactforce in the flask.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectionillustrating the'lowermostposition of the match plate and patterns after the same have been drawnfrom the completed mold, 3

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan ofthe molding machine.

Fig. 'i is a horizontal section' and plan substantially on the plane ofline 1'| of Fig. 1 looking downwardly and showing one of the sand 45holding hoppersin position at the station for flllingthe same with sand.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating mold thereinillustrating mold cavities for the casting of cam shafts. 1 1

Fig. 10 is an underplan view of the flask.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the match plate.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in 5 the different figuresof the drawings.

In the construction of the machine, a vertical supporting column l,cylindrical at its upper portion, is modified as to cross section, atits lower portion as indicated at 2, providing a vertical 10 front face3 against which a housing 4 for part of the mechanism of the machine islocated and permanently bolted or otherwise secured. Near the ldwcr, endof the cylindrical portion of the column I a horizontal supportingcollar 5 is se- 15 cured about which is a ring 6 which may turn aroundthe column i and between which and the collar 5 are suitableanti-friction bearings. A downwardly and outwardly extending shield orskirt 1 from the ring 6 partially covers the collar 5 and serves toexclude dirt, sand or the likefrom the hearing. A suitable releasablelatch 8 is carried by the collar 5'to engage in suitable recesses atspaced apart intervals at the underside of the ring I to thereby stopthe ring and the hoppers, (later described). which are carried therebyso as to properly position the hoppers in the three stations which theyare designed to occupy in the operation of the machine. A

covering ring 9, having a depending flange, is

located above the ring 6 around the column, protectlngagaihst theentrance of sand; grit or the like between the inner surfaces of thering and the column I about which it turns.

A plurality of projecting arms or supports 10, 5'

three in. number, extend horizontally from the ring. In the constructionshown, at the outer ends of each of the supports III are two spacedapart arms II. The arms Hare equipped with receiving sockets near theirends-and a sand outlets l4 shown as parallelto each other and disposedin the bottoms oflongitudinal troughs made in the bottom of the hopperbetween the 5 I intermediate raised portions toms. v

Several hoppers are used and each hopper is successively moved from afilling station where it receives sand to the next station where thesand 5 of the hopper. botis forced from the hopper into the flask, thento a third station where the hopper is cleaned and made ready to beagain filled when it passes to the filling station after cleaning.

Near the upper end of the supporting cylindrical column I a strong andheavy horizontal arm I is located provided with a divided collar Hi topass around the cylinder I and which is clamped against the cylinder bytightening the clamping bolts 11. tally located head 18 which isdirectly above the station at which a hopper filled with sand is stoppedfor the purpose of being operated up by the mechanism to force the sandtherefrom into the flask and against the.match plate and patternscarried thereby. Four cylindrical guide rods l9 depend from what may becalled the cornets of the head 18. The rods I9 serve to guide acompressed air chamber member 20 slidably mounted thereon below the headI8.

The member 20 is hollow and has passages therethrough from its upper toits lower end. The lower end of the member 20 is open and around theopen end there is an outwardly extending annular flange 21. This lowerend of the member or body 20 is closed by a plate 22 permanently boltedto the flange 2| by bolts 23. The plate 22 has a plurality of spacedapart ports 24 vertically therethrough which progressively increase insize downward as shown.

A horizontal shaft 25 is'rotatably mounted on and extends through thehead l8. Within the head I8 the shaft carries eccentrics 26 which aremounted within one end portion of a depending link 21 the lower end ofwhich is pivotally connected to shaft 28 connected to a top closingmember 29 which closes the upper end of the member 28 and which ispermanently secured thereto. It is evident that by turning the shaft 25so that the eccentrics occupy the position shown in Fig. 9, the member20 and all mechanism and parts connected therewith may be elevated ashort distance, the distance depending upon the throw of the eccentric.Also, by turning the shaft back the member 20 and the parts carriedthereby may be lowered a short distance, being guided in its verticalmovements on the guide rods 19 previously described.

Within the member 20 and between its ends are a plurality of verticalcylinders 30 in each of which a piston 3| is mounted. Each piston isconnected to a piston rod 32. The portion of each rod below the pistonpasses through a guide sleeve 33. Said rods 32 at their lower ends arepermanently connected to a valve member 34' which is in the form of arectangular relatively heavy block and at the underside of which tocover all of the ports 24 sealing members 35 of rubber or equivalentmaterial are secured, as fully shown in Fig. 6. The interior space inthe lower portion of the member 20 between the upper side of the lowerclosing plate 22 and the lower sides of the pistons 31 constitute achamber 36 into which compressed air is entered.

In the design shown there are four of the rods 32 and fourpistons 3|.Above the pistons and the cylinders in which they operate said rods passthrough horizontal members or bars 31 and continue above the same intoguide sleeves 38 which extend downwardly from the upper closing member29. A second shaft 39 with eccentrics 48 thereon, similar to the shaft25 with the eccentrics 26 thereon, extends through and isrotatably-mounted on the member 20. Links 4| have their ,upper endportions around the eccentrics The arm 15 terminates in a horizon- 40.The links extend downwardly and are pivotally connected at 42 to themembers 31 previously described. It is evident that on rotating theshaft 39 from the position shown, for example in Fig. 5, the members 31,rods 32, piston 3| and valve member 34 are elevated and the ports 24uncovered. Such elevation is rendered more easy by reason of balancingthe pressure against the upper side of the valve member 34 in part bythe same pressure against the lower sides of the pistons 3|, that is,the same compressed air pressure works upon both. Rotation of the shaft39 in one direction serves to lift the valve 34 and by turning the sameback the valve 34 is lowered to close the ports 24.

At the forward end of the housing 4 is an integral auxiliary housing 43,the upper end of which is closed by a top. The upper side of the top 44is inclined downwardly and outwardly in both directions from the middleproviding downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces 45 for the readyblowing of sand away therefrom. The top 44 is extended upwardly at itssides to provide a frame 46 with openings 41 below the frame and abovethe member 44 as shown.

An auxiliary frame 48 is located within the frame 46 and is providedwith a continuous outwardly extending horizontal flange 49 which bearsupon the upper edges of the frame 46 and forms a supporting ledge forthe flask 50 which is placed in inverted position upon said ledge. Insuch position, as in Fig. 3 or 6, there are upwardly extending elongatedprojections 5| which have passages 52 therein the upper ends of whichcome into direct conjunction with the narrow elongated outlet passagesl4 in the bottom of the hopper l2, whereby upon introducing compressedair into the upper side of the hopper against the sand therein, the sandis forced downwardly through the openings [4 and passages 52 into theflask and against the match plate which carries patterns projecting intothe flask.

The match plate 53 is a horizontal plate with suitable patterns at itsupper side. At its outer edges integral downwardly extending sides andends 54 are provided which lie within the sides and ends of theauxiliary frame 48. A suitable packing 55 is disposed between theadjacent outer and inner sides of the parts 54 and the sides and ends ofthe auxiliary frame 48. The match plate has a plurality of vent openings56 therethrough for the escape of air which will pass through the sandboth in the hopper and in the flask when the sand is forced bycompressed air into the flask. The match plate is recessed adjacent theseveral vents and receives screen sections A in these recesses as shownin Fig. 12. This screen prevents sand from passing through these smallvents or openings. (See Fig. 6.)

The match plate rests upon a head member 51 the upper sides of which aredownwardly and outwardly inclined like the upper sides 45 of the member44 for the same purpose. The head 51 in turn is supported by suitablecylindrical posts or rods 58 passing downwardly through and guided insleeve guides 59 formed in the top 44. Below the top 44 the posts 58 areconnected by hori- 2,131,935 piston rod 64 which extendsv through theend of the cylinder and has pivotal connection at 65 with, the upper endof a crank arm 66 mounted to turn upon the axis of 'a rock shaft 61mounted horizontally in the-lower portion of the auxiliary housing 43.Toggle link structures comprising upper links 68 and lower links 68a aredisposed wardly:

between the rock shaft 61 and a rod 69 extending between the bars 60.Links 68 and 68a are pivotally connected at their ends at 10. It, isevi-- dent that onthe movement of the piston to the right, (Fig. 4), thelinks are straightened and brought toward alinement and that the posts58' the path of movement of a stop ing 14 on the end of the piston rod64. ,A gear 15 is secured head 13 in the position shown in Fig. 3, -aflask 50 is inverted and placed upon the ledge provided by the flanges49, as shown in Fig. 10. The shaft 25 ,is rocked so as to move theeccentric to the position shownin Fig. 9, whereby the member or body 20which contains the compressedair chamber 36- is lifted a short distance,occupying the position shown in Fig.9. A hopper l 2, filled with therequired amount of sand, is then swung into position between the flask50 and the loweriside of the plate 22. The hopper will be stopped at theproper position through the engagement of the retaining latch or dog Binthe recess of ring The next operation is to turn the shaft 25 to lowerthe member 20 and bring the lower side of the plate 22 against theoutwardly extending flange of the open upper end of the hopper l2. Thenby a slightly further turning of the shaft .25 a heavy pressuremay beexerted upon the hopper which will bring its lower or bottom sideagainst the upper ends of the projections 51 on the flask. This pressureis-suflicient to spring the arms ll downwardly and a tightseal isprovided between the upper end of the hopper l2 and the lower side ofthe plate 22 and between the lower side of the hopper and the sandentrance projec-- tions 5| of the flask. Turning the eccentric 26 so,that its point farthest removed from the axis of the shaft 25 isdirectly underneath the axis of the rod 25 looks the parts described insealed position.

After this has been done shaft :9 turned from the position shown inFigs. 5 and 9 to lift the valve plate 34. The compressed air passes'through the ports'u'and against the sand in the hopper l2 forcing thesand intothe flask and around the patterns extending upwardlyfrom thematch plate 53 and against the upper side of the match plate.

The position of the match plate and patterns carried thereby when thesand is forced into the flask is that shown in Fig. 3. It will benoticed that the upper face of the match plate 53 is a short distancebelow the plane of the upper side of the flanges 49. This isaccomplished bylocating the threaded shaft." and the stop head H3 attheinner end thereof with said head 13 positioned inwardly a shortdistance from the inner end of the sleeve 12, as in Fig. 3. Compressedair is entered into the cylinderil which moves the piston and piston rodto the right until the 9 lug 14 engages the head 13. This is done at thebeginning of the operation. In such position the toggle links 68 and 68aare not brought into direct vertical alinement and the upward movementof the match plate is stopped so that the upper side of the match plateis the short dis tance previously described below the plane of the upperside of the flanges 49.

After the compressed air has done its work upon the sand, forcing thesame into the flask 50, the ,valve at 34 is closed by turning the shaft39 in the proper direction.- The mold is then completed by operating therack 16 lengthwise so as to withdraw the screw threaded shaft H and thehead 13' to the position shown in Fig. 4. With this withdrawal, thecompressed air in the cylinder 6| moves the piston farther to the leftstraightening the toggle links 68 and 68a into alinement and lifting the'match plate a short .distanceuntil its horizontal upper side is in theplane of the upper sides of the flanges 49. This squeezes the sand whichhas been forced into the flask into a smaller compact volume. It is thefinal step of completing the mold and compressing or packing the sand tothe required density. After this operation of squeezing the sand thepattern is withdrawn from the mold. Thisis accomplished by releasing thecompressed air in the cylinder 6| whereupon the piston, piston rod andtoggle link elevating structure move back to the position i Fig. 1thereby permitting the match plate and patterns thereon to gravitatedownwardly to leave the mold which has been formed in the flask. Theflask with the mold therein is then ready to be removed from themachinel To remove'the flask the upper shaft 25 is rotated to elevatethe member 20 to the position shown in Fig. 9. This releases the hopperI2 from the flask and it-may be swung out of the way if desired and theflask removed or the flask can he slid out from under the hopper withoutswinging the same to the hopper cleaning position. Whether or not theflask is removed before or after the hopper has away from the mechanismto the position or sta- 1 tion at which it is cleaned. Therefore, thereis one of the three hoppers at each of the three positions, one hopperbeing fllled with sand, one in the machine having sand forced therefromto make a mold, and one in the process of cleaning previbus to beingswungto the filling position.

The completed mold is shown in Fig. 10.; It isv indicated at 19 as heldwithin the flask 50 and with two parallel series or pairs of moldcavities 80, each pair being connected at one end by a gate 8|. Theflask is of special construction having an integrally cast bottom platewith slotted openings for the admission of sand from the hopper aboveinto the mold. See Figs. 3 and 11. Either a drag or cope may be joinedwith a cooperating drag or cope to complete the mold. Into the completedmold molten iron may be poured in accordance with the usual practice toflll the mold cavities. The mold cavities shown are in connection withthe casting of cam shafts for internal combustion engines. However, themachine described is not restricted in any sense to the casting of camshafts alone.

The structure described is very practical and efficient and with it veryrapid quantity production of duplicate molds may be performed eco-'nomically. Various modifications in detail of structure may be resortedto without departing from the invention which is defined in the claims.The invention is therefore not restricted to the particular disclosuremade but is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structurecoming within the scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In molding apparatus, a vertical hollow support over the upper end ofwhich a flask is placed in inverted position, a horizontal match platewith pattern thereon at its upper side mounted for vertical movementswithin said support, a plunger carrying said match plate, means forraising and lowering the plunger, adjustable stop means for limiting theupward movement of the plunger whereby the match plate may be movedupwardly to a predetermined position, means for forcing sand through theupper side of the inverted flask into said flask and against the matchplate and pattern, and means for operating said adjustable stop wherebythe match plate and pattern may be moved upwardly a short predetermineddistance after the sand has been forced therein, said match plate andpattern being withdrawable from the sand mold held in the flask upondownward withdrawal of said plunger.

2. In molding apparatus, a stationary vertical hollow support, avertically movable plunger mounted therein, a cylinder adapted toreceive fluid pressure, a piston in said cylinder and a piston rodprojecting from the piston at one end of the cylinder, a fixed framemember, toggle link connections associated with the piston rod, thefixed frame member and the plunger for raising and lowering the plungerupon outward and inward movements of said piston, an adjustable stopmounted on the support in the path of movement of the piston rod forcontrolling the extent of upward movement of said plunger, and a matchplate with pattern thereon carried at the upper side of the plunger andguided within said hollow support.

3. In a molding apparatus, a vertical hollow support, the upper end ofwhich provides an open rectangular frame portion, a plunger mounted forvertical movements in said support, a match plate having depending sidesand ends located within said frame and guided thereby in verticalmovements, said match plate being carried at the upper end of theplunger, a power means for raising and lowering the plunger, adjustablestop means for limiting the extent of movement upwardly of said plunger,and manually operable means for adjusting said stop means to diflerentpositions to selectively control the upper positions to which saidplunger may be moved.

4. In a molding apparatus, a vertical hollow support, a plunger mountedwithin said support for vertical movements, a match plate havingdepending sides and ends and carrying a pattern at its upper horizontalside resting upon the upper end of the plunger and located within theupper end portion of said support, pivotally mounted lever meansconnected with said plunger, fluid power means for operating said levermeans to raise and lower said plunger, a screw threaded through one sideof said support, the inner end thereof being located in the path ofmovement of said fluid operating means whereby the extent of upwardmovement of the plunger may be controlled, and means for manuallyturning said screw to adjust the inner end thereof to differentpositions so as to stop the upward movement of the plunger at differentpositions.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertical hollow suppor't, aflask disposed in inverted position over the upper end of said support,said flask having a plurality of sand entrance openings in its upperside when located in such inverted position, a sand holding hopperhaving restricted openings in its bottom and open at its upper side, theopenings in the flask and the openings in the hopper being in alinementand of substantially the same size, means for mounting the hopperwhereby the same may be moved into position over the flask so that theopenings in the bottom of the hopper and in the upper side of theinverted flask come into conjunction with each other, a -match platewith. a pattern thereon mounted in said support below the flask, andmeansfor projecting fluid pressure into the hopper to act on the sand toforce the same therefrom at its bottom into said flask and over andagainst the upper side of the match plate and pattern.

6. A construction containing the elements in combination defined inclaim 5, combined with power means for lifting said match plate andpatterns to a predetermined position and holding it in said position,and gravity means for lowering the match plate and patterns after thesand has been entered into the flask.

7. In molding apparatus, a vertical support, the upper end thereofproviding an open frame, a flask located in inverted position at theupper end of said frame and covering the opening therein, a match platewith pattern thereon mounted within said frame for vertical movements,means for raising the match plate to a predetermined position, a sandholding hopper located over the flask, the bottom of said hopper "andthe upper side of the inverted flask having sand passing openings inconjunction with each other, a chambered housing located over the upperside of the hopper having a compressed air receiving chamber therein,the lower side of the housing having air passing openings, a memberlocated within the housing.

over said openings adapted to close the same, and means for raising saidmember for the passage of compressed air therefrom to the sand in saidhopper.

8. Molding apparatus comprising a vertical support, a flask disposed ininverted position on said support, a match plate and pattern thereonlocated at the lower open side of the flask, a sand holding hopperlocated over the flask, the bottom of the hopper and the upper side ofthe inverted flask having restricted openings in conjunction with eachother, said openings facing each other to form closed passageways forthe sand and air, a housing located over the hopper. said housing havinga chamber therein adapted to receive compressed air, thebottom side ofsaid housing havingopenings thereth'rough, a valve member. in thechamber in its lower position closing said openings, and means formanually opens ing and closing said valve member.

9. In molding apparatus, a vertical column support, a supporting armconnected to the upper end 10. In a molding apparatus, a vertical hollowsupport open at its upper end, a match plate with pattern thereonvertically movable within said support and guided thereby, a verticallyreciprocable plunger at the upper end of which the match plate islocated, a cylinder, a piston therein, a piston rod connected with thepiston and extending outwardly at one end of the cylinder, toggle linkconnections between the plunger and the lower part ofthe support, meansfor connecting the piston rod with said toggle link connections foropering a flask, said flask being open at both ends, the

' ating the same to either raise or lower the plunger, a screw threadedrod extending through one side-of the support having its inner end inthe path of movement of the piston rod, a gear at the outer end of thescrew threaded rod, and a manually movable horizontal rack mounted onthe support in engagement with the gear, as specified.

11. A molding apparatus comprising, a match plate and pattern, a flasklocated in inverted position thereover, a hopper open at its upper sidelocated over the flask, the botom of the'hopper and the upper side ofthe inverted fiaskhaving passages in conjunction with each othertherethrough, a hollow housing having a chamber for reeciving compressedair located over the hopper,

the lower side of the housing having air passing openings therethrough,a valve located within said chamber for closing said air openings, meansfor manually moving said valve to open the openings, means for mountingthe housing for vertical movements, means for manually raising orlowering said housing, said means including a horizontal shaft.eccentrics and links located around the eccentrics and extendingdownwardly and connected with the upper end of the housing, wherebyrotation of the shaft in one direction elevates the housing and intheopposite direction lowers the same.

12. In a'construction of the class described havcombinatlon of, meanslocated above the flaskto' supply air pressure to the top of said flask.this means comprising a hollow member having a pluin either direction. v

rality of cylinders formed intermediately and interiorly thereof,pistons slidable in said cylinders,

a closure plate attached to the lower end of said hollow member, saidclosure plate having a plurality of valve openings therethrough, a valvemember in the form of a relatively heavy block resting upon the closureplate to seal the several valve openings therethrough, rods extendingfrom the said valve member upwardly to each of the said pistons, andmeans above the said pistons for operating the same and means forintroducing air into the hollow member between the several pistons andthe closure plate.

13. A combination of elements as set forth in claim 12, "in which thevalve member is provided with a plurality of rubber inserts, there beinga rubber insert aboveeach of the valve openings.

14. In combination, a support having four spaced rods extendingdownwardly therefrom, a hollow chambered means having extensionsextending laterally therefrom, there being four of these extensions andeach extension having an opening therein adapted to receive one of saidspaced rods whereby the chambered means is mounted forsliding movement,actuating means for sliding the chambered means relative to thesupports, closure plates located at the top and the bottom of the saidchambered means, the bottom closure plate having a plurality of openingstherein, a single valve plate resting upon said bottom closure .plateand closing the openings therein, a

plurality of rods extending upwardly from said claim 14, said pullingmeans including a plurality of rods extending upwardly, asingle meansconnected to the rods and movable to operate the same, said rodsextending upwardly through the top closure plate and means attached tothe said rods to prevent the fl'ow of air therealong.

17. In combination, a hollow chamber having a plurality of cylindersformed interiorly thereof, a

closure plate located at each end of said chamber, one of said closureplates having a plurality of valve. openings therethrough, a valve platelocated adjacent said valve openings and adapted to open and-close thesame, a plurality of pistons located in said cylinders, piston rodsextending between each of the said pistons and the said" valve plate,said piston rods continuing and extending through the other closureplate, means locatedwithln the chamber between the several pistons andthe last mentioned closure means for operating the several piston rodssimultaneously

